Uganda president signs anti-gay bill into law

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has signed a bill that, despite Western pressure over gay rights, criminalizes any same-sex relationships.

Museveni signed the bill in Entebbe on Monday, saying the measure was needed in order to deter the West’s “social imperialism” promoting homosexuality in Africa.

“We Africans never seek to impose our view on others. If only they could let us alone,” Museveni said, while referring to Western pressure aimed at him not signing the bill.
The president went on to accuse “arrogant and careless Western groups” of campaigning to recruit Ugandan children into homosexuality.

“We have been disappointed for a long time by the conduct of the West. There is now an attempt at social imperialism to impose social values” he added.
The anti-gay law is widely popular in Uganda, where it has been hailed by Christian clerics and politicians.

First-time offenders of the law are to be sentenced to 14 years in jail, while repeat offenders may receive life imprisonment for “aggravated homosexuality” – repeated gay acts between consenting adults as well as same-sex acts involving a minor, a disabled person or those infected with HIV.

The new law follows similar anti-homosexuality measures in many African countries.

Last month, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan signed a bill that criminalizes any same-sex relationships.

Anti-gay laws in Africa have drawn heavy criticism from Western nations who have threatened to cut aid to governments that pass laws persecuting homosexuals.

This is while many African countries are seeking to tighten laws against homosexuality.